Living from the heart

The more I live life the more I realize how easy it is for us to stop living from the heart.  I look around and realize most people don't really have a passion - something that consumes every part of who they are; something that drives them to take risks, live adventurously...

Too often us Christians live from our minds.  We have Scripture in our minds, but it doesn't make it to our hearts.  Verses we've memorized as children, or in Christian school, or from countless Sunday services... we can quote them, but they don't impact us. They don't cause emotion to erupt!  They don't create drive for His Kingdom!  They are in the mind - that's it.  

Too often us Christians live from our memories.  Experiences of the past are the only stories we have to tell.  The days when our hearts were tender and passionate.  "I remember this mission trip... or youth group days..."  But there's a lack of fresh passion in our hearts.  

What is God doing today?  Right now?  I rather have one verse of Scripture make it to my heart, then 20 stay only in my mind.  I want to live with passion, with a heart alive, with fresh experiences, with depth of intimacy, with emotion and zeal... I don't want to be like the "believers" that Stephen talked about, "You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth.  Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit?" (Acts 7)

Too often we get too preoccupied with making our ministries effective, cool, and whatever else, but then we neglect the heart.  I remember Paul's words about "those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart before God" (2 Cor. 5:12).  

I pray that I never forget to keep my heart healthy and alive in the midst of my ministry.  I pray that I would never let me serving God get in the way of me loving Him.  God keep my heart alive and fresh.  

World Reality

Last month we did a series at 24/7 youth entitled "The World Series" where we talked about how we can be used to change the world with even just a little effort.  Think about these stats:

1. Half the world - 3 billion people - live on less than two dollars a day.
   
2. 1 in 2 children in the world live in poverty.
3. 1 child dies every 3 seconds due to poverty, diseases, etc. (27,000 a day)
4. Nearly 1 billion people entered the 21st century without being able to read a book or sign their name.

This information is not hidden - it's in front of our eyes.  And when I think of these, not as numbers, but as real people - people God loves just as much as me - then it makes me wanna do something about it.  We are responsible to do something about what we know.  Jesus made it clear, "to those that are given much, much is required".  Man we've been given much!  

I think one of the best for us to impact the world is by partnering with some of the many world impact organizations like these on the Genesis website.  These are some of the people Mandy and I sponsor:

This little boy on the left is Jossiel - we sponsor him through Compassion International.  He lives in the Dominican Republic and we actually got to visit him in person a few years ago.  His dad is a pastor and he also wants to be one. We love him and pray for him often.  

This cool looking guy on the right is Ezra - we sponsor him through Gospel for Asia. He is a missionary in India.  We also sponsor another child in India named Jishan. 

Our goal is to increase our giving to the world every year of our marriage.  Wouldn't it be cool if someday in Heaven we'll get to see people from all over the world that we impacted through simple gifts and prayers?  I can't wait...